To link to the entire object, paste this link in email, IM or documentTo embed the entire object, paste this HTML in websiteTo link to this page, paste this link in email, IM or documentTo embed this page, paste this HTML in website

History of Vernon County, Wisconsin. Together with sketches of its towns and villages, educational, civil, military and political history; portraits of prominent persons, and biographies of representative citizens.

688
HISTORY OF VERNON COUNTY.
Good Templars, Ancient Orderof United Work¬ men, Grand Army of the Republic and Chosen Friends.
RELIGIOUS.
The first religious services held in the village were at the old log school and court house, under the auspices of the Methodists.
The Methodist Episcopal Church was the pio¬ neer Church of Vernon county, and gave to Viroqua and vicinity the first religious services. The first class formed at Viroqua was organized at a camp meeting held in a grove near the residence of James A. Cooke, east of the vil¬ lage, conducted by Rev. Jesse Pardun in the autumn of 1848. James A. Cooke was appointed leader, and among the members were: James A. Cooke and wife, James Foster and wife, George A. Swain and wife, Daniel Crume and wife, William Crume and wife, George Crume and wife, Peter Hay and wife and Mr. Gillett. To these were soon added Rev. John Whitworth and wife, Henry Nichols, long and reverentially known as "Father" Nichols; and others. At first the class met at private houses, then in a log school house near what is now Brookville, and later in the log court house, school and church building in Viroqua. The first circuit of vvhich Viroqua was a part comprised the en¬ tire county, the preacher in chai'ge being aided in his arduous work by local preachers; nota¬ bly. Rev. John Whitworth, James A. Cooke and James Bishop. The preachers successively upon the work, with regular appointments at • Viroqua, have been as follows: Jesse Pardun, 1849-50; Rev. Stevens, 1851; Nicholas Mayne, 1852-3; A. Cooley, 1854; Jesse Pardun and Rev. Mclndoe, 1855; George Hartshorn, 1856; James Fitch, 1857-8; A. Foster, 1859; J. E. Irish, 1860: George W. Nuzum, 1861-2; Sam¬ uel Dodge, 1863-4-5; W. F. De Lap, R. Fan¬ cher, 1867: Thomas Manuel, 1868; I. S. Leavitt, 1869; W. R. Irish, 1870; W. F. De Lap, 1871- 2-3; Jacob Miller, 1874; E. L. Semans, 1875-6-7; George Nuzum, 1878-9; Charles Irish, 1880; J. T. Morgans, lb81; I. B. Bickford, 1882-3. The
different presiding elders have been Chauncy Hobart, Alfred Brunson, R. R. Wood, A. H. Walters, W. B. Hazeltine, J. T. Pryor, R. Dud¬ geon, W. F. De Lap, J. D. Searles, E. E. Clough and J. B. Balch. The first church building was erected in 1856 upon a lot deeded to the society by Henry Nichols. This was entirely destroyed by the tornado of 1865, and the present build¬ ing was erected upon the same site at a cost of about $2,000, in 1866, being dedicated Feb. 17, 1867, President Steele, of Lawrence Univer¬ sity, preaching the dedicatory sermon. The remarkable zeal and laborious efforts of Rev. Samuel Dodge in the rebuilding of the church at this time, when the entire community was depressed financially and otherwise, by the de¬ structive tornado^ deserves special mention and grateful remembrance. Gen. J. M. liusk presented the Church with a fine 500 pound bell from the Buckeye Foundry, at Cincinnati. A notable revival occurred under the pastorate of Rev. W, F De Lap, during the winter of 1867, and the society became distinctively strong in numbers and spirituality. The present officers of the Chuich are as follows: Pastor, Rev. I. B. Bickford; class leader, P. J. Layne; stewards, John W. Curry, J. B. Richards, John Everett, S. P. Layne; recording steward, P. J. Layne; district steward, J. W. Curry; trustees, William Strieker, S. P. Layne, J. B. Richards, John Everett, D. A. Barnard and C. J. Cher¬ rington. During 1883 the audience room of the church was papered and ceiled, the pulpit and platform remodeled, and riow presents a very tasteful appearance. Being the most com¬ modious and centrally located church in the village it is in frequent use for temperance meetings and public school exercises.
The Sunday school was organized during the summer of 1867, upon a denominational basis, a union school having, up to this time, been con¬ ducted by this and other Churches. The Sun¬ day school in 1883 was officered as follows: Superintendent, P. J. Layne; secretary and treasurer, Dr. J. B, Richards. Jessie Richards

History of Vernon County, Wisconsin. Together with sketches of its towns and villages, educational, civil, military and political history; portraits of prominent persons, and biographies of representative citizens.

Title of work

History of Vernon County, Wisconsin. Together with sketches of its towns and villages, educational, civil, military and political history; portraits of prominent persons, and biographies of representative citizens.

We believe that online reproduction of this material is permitted because its copyright protection has lapsed or because sharing it here for non-profit educational purposes complies with the Fair Use provisions of the U.S. Copyright Law. Teachers and students are generally free to reproduce pages for nonprofit classroom use. For advice about other uses, or if you believe that you possess copyright to some of this material, please contact us at asklibrary@wisconsinhistory.org.

History of Vernon County, Wisconsin. Together with sketches of its towns and villages, educational, civil, military and political history; portraits of prominent persons, and biographies of representative citizens.

Author

Union Publishing Company

Publication Date (Original)

1884

Format-Digital

jpeg

Publisher-Electronic

Wisconsin Historical Society

Rights

We believe that online reproduction of this material is permitted because its copyright protection has lapsed or because sharing it here for non-profit educational purposes complies with the Fair Use provisions of the U.S. Copyright Law. Teachers and students are generally free to reproduce pages for nonprofit classroom use. For advice about other uses, or if you believe that you possess copyright to some of this material, please contact us at asklibrary@wisconsinhistory.org.

Publication Date-Electronic

2008

Identifier-Digital

Vern1884656

Full Text

688
HISTORY OF VERNON COUNTY.
Good Templars, Ancient Orderof United Work¬ men, Grand Army of the Republic and Chosen Friends.
RELIGIOUS.
The first religious services held in the village were at the old log school and court house, under the auspices of the Methodists.
The Methodist Episcopal Church was the pio¬ neer Church of Vernon county, and gave to Viroqua and vicinity the first religious services. The first class formed at Viroqua was organized at a camp meeting held in a grove near the residence of James A. Cooke, east of the vil¬ lage, conducted by Rev. Jesse Pardun in the autumn of 1848. James A. Cooke was appointed leader, and among the members were: James A. Cooke and wife, James Foster and wife, George A. Swain and wife, Daniel Crume and wife, William Crume and wife, George Crume and wife, Peter Hay and wife and Mr. Gillett. To these were soon added Rev. John Whitworth and wife, Henry Nichols, long and reverentially known as "Father" Nichols; and others. At first the class met at private houses, then in a log school house near what is now Brookville, and later in the log court house, school and church building in Viroqua. The first circuit of vvhich Viroqua was a part comprised the en¬ tire county, the preacher in chai'ge being aided in his arduous work by local preachers; nota¬ bly. Rev. John Whitworth, James A. Cooke and James Bishop. The preachers successively upon the work, with regular appointments at • Viroqua, have been as follows: Jesse Pardun, 1849-50; Rev. Stevens, 1851; Nicholas Mayne, 1852-3; A. Cooley, 1854; Jesse Pardun and Rev. Mclndoe, 1855; George Hartshorn, 1856; James Fitch, 1857-8; A. Foster, 1859; J. E. Irish, 1860: George W. Nuzum, 1861-2; Sam¬ uel Dodge, 1863-4-5; W. F. De Lap, R. Fan¬ cher, 1867: Thomas Manuel, 1868; I. S. Leavitt, 1869; W. R. Irish, 1870; W. F. De Lap, 1871- 2-3; Jacob Miller, 1874; E. L. Semans, 1875-6-7; George Nuzum, 1878-9; Charles Irish, 1880; J. T. Morgans, lb81; I. B. Bickford, 1882-3. The
different presiding elders have been Chauncy Hobart, Alfred Brunson, R. R. Wood, A. H. Walters, W. B. Hazeltine, J. T. Pryor, R. Dud¬ geon, W. F. De Lap, J. D. Searles, E. E. Clough and J. B. Balch. The first church building was erected in 1856 upon a lot deeded to the society by Henry Nichols. This was entirely destroyed by the tornado of 1865, and the present build¬ ing was erected upon the same site at a cost of about $2,000, in 1866, being dedicated Feb. 17, 1867, President Steele, of Lawrence Univer¬ sity, preaching the dedicatory sermon. The remarkable zeal and laborious efforts of Rev. Samuel Dodge in the rebuilding of the church at this time, when the entire community was depressed financially and otherwise, by the de¬ structive tornado^ deserves special mention and grateful remembrance. Gen. J. M. liusk presented the Church with a fine 500 pound bell from the Buckeye Foundry, at Cincinnati. A notable revival occurred under the pastorate of Rev. W, F De Lap, during the winter of 1867, and the society became distinctively strong in numbers and spirituality. The present officers of the Chuich are as follows: Pastor, Rev. I. B. Bickford; class leader, P. J. Layne; stewards, John W. Curry, J. B. Richards, John Everett, S. P. Layne; recording steward, P. J. Layne; district steward, J. W. Curry; trustees, William Strieker, S. P. Layne, J. B. Richards, John Everett, D. A. Barnard and C. J. Cher¬ rington. During 1883 the audience room of the church was papered and ceiled, the pulpit and platform remodeled, and riow presents a very tasteful appearance. Being the most com¬ modious and centrally located church in the village it is in frequent use for temperance meetings and public school exercises.
The Sunday school was organized during the summer of 1867, upon a denominational basis, a union school having, up to this time, been con¬ ducted by this and other Churches. The Sun¬ day school in 1883 was officered as follows: Superintendent, P. J. Layne; secretary and treasurer, Dr. J. B, Richards. Jessie Richards